The stars aligned

We just purchased this home on West Saint Johns. 

I feel very lucky...this was the only home on the market (in the neighborhood) under our target price point and it has the biggest lot. The inspector and appraiser were both surprised with the good condition of the property. We'll be able to preserve most of the framing and all of the foundation. Also, we're recycling all of the aluminum siding and tin roof.

You can't miss the star theme throughout the house. Only after we purchased it did we discover that the owner made the star that's on the ceiling in the rotunda of the State Capitol building. He made a replica in the backyard.

Our little athlete

Wings 'n More

Madison loves wings and wands.  She's part princess, part angel and part wild thing! Yvette got her these wings for her birthday and we happened to find a bag full of wands sitting on our front porch a few days later....hmmmm.

She loves playing Max and Ruby. The cat always ends up being Max. Poor Lelu.

Maddy is turning three! A fancy tea party, there will be!

Sell-ebrating

I've had a difficult time these past few months with balancing work and life. I'm exhausted when I leave work and feel overwhelming guilty when I get home and see Mad. I wonder why I'm spending so much time, giving so much of myself to others - and my own baby is at home without me.  

Recently, I confided in one of the teachers at work. I let her know that it's a struggle for me to come to work to each day. I told her that I loved teaching. I loved being around children. I loved watching them learn. I chose this career because I believed it to be something very similar to teaching. But this, what I'm doing now, this is very different from what I imagined. This is consuming, suffocating at times. It's difficult. 

She told me that I would regret leaving. I would look back on that decision and wish I had chosen differently. She asked me to take some time off, get some rest, and spend time with my family. 

My teacher friend is right. I've made a commitment and I'll have to follow through with it. I also know that this is important - that I teach my daughter about commitments, but I need her to know that she should never have to compromise who she is and what she believes in. I'll never do that again. 

Soon after our talk, we found out that we had a cash buyer for Taulbee (the house wasn't even on the market). We're closing in two weeks. After only a few short months and without any renovations, I had made my entire yearly salary on this one deal. Brian is very proud of me. I'm just so dang happy that I get to remind him that he wanted nothing to do with this house. :) 

      

Now it's time to look for the next one.

 

Christmas

Our first "second" home

When I told Brian we needed to purchase my grandparents' house, he was completely against it. In typical Brian fashion, I had to present a detailed cost-profit analysis before he would even consider giving me any money.

Part of my husband's concerns are:

- the house has been vacant since my grandmother passed away in 2006

- it's in great disrepair and needs major renovations

- it's located in a transitioning neighborhood near a few duplexes

Part of my case to him included:

- the amount of equity in the home

- the cost of renovations 

- and a comparative market analysis of the neighborhood

My husband is highly analytical and even after my well-executed powerpoint presentation he remained unconvinced with the numbers. So, I was forced to go with a more professionally driven presentation: I cried.

Yes, he's analytical, but he's also very emotional...and it worked.

Now we own this home and I am so happy! I'll spend the next few weeks getting bids on the renovation work. 

And who knows....after I sell this one, I may want to purchase another second home.

Monkey business

Madison's first time climbing on her own!

Singin' and swingin'

Mad screamed...er, sang, Mary had a little lamb today while at the park today.

Going green....hopefully

I've had a vegetable garden for years.....but I've never actually produced any produce...maybe my little lucky charm will help change all that.

Backyard Project

Yertle